Part One: A Lost Childhood: In the Blink of an Eye, Brainstorm, School Daze, So Hard to Be Good: Chapters 5 - 11 Summary

The narration jumps back in time to when Cory was five years old and his troubles began. One morning, he wakes with "an unusual, intense tension building up in my neck, and I think the only way to relieve it is to jerk my head to one side" (Page 19). Cory jerks his neck, but a few moments later, the tension returns. This happens throughout the day, and soon, Cory is jerking his neck every few seconds. He tries to stop but the longer he holds back, the stronger the urge becomes. This is Cory's first tic. Cory's parents take him to the doctor...